Second Chances // Chase Elliott

detours

twenty-eight

CHASE ELLIOTT

I slowly opened my eyes to the bright light that shone through the hospital rooms windows. I breathed in the smell of the fresh October air that was seeping through the open window and sighed in contentment.

I looked to my right and smiled when I saw Caroline fast asleep in her chair with the sun hitting her skin just right. She shifted in her seat and pulled the blanket tighter around her arms.

When I heard a knock at the door, I looked up to see my mom standing there with the biggest smile on her face.

"Good morning," she whispered, coming over to my bed.

"Hi Momma," I smiled. She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"How are you feeling today?"

"I'm feeling good," I said sitting up in the bed.

"Has the doctor been in this morning?"

"He was in earlier but he hasn't been back. Caroline and I both fell back asleep after he left."

"Did he say when you would get to go home?"

"He said here within the next few days."

It's been two days since I woke up from the coma and I was more than ready to go back home to Georgia.

"What about your ankle?"

"He said it's healing nicely. Being in this bed for the last two weeks has helped out a lot," I chuckled. "Where's dad?"

"He's parking the car," she said.

"Mom, can I be honest with you?"

"Of course, sweetie."

"I was so scared when the accident happened. I didn't think I was gonna make it out of that car alive. All I could see was you, and dad, and Caroline. I thought about what I would miss and who I would leave behind. It was the scariest moment of my life." Mom sat there with a few stray tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset."

"No, don't apologize. These are happy tears, not sad tears. I'm so thankful that you're alright. I love you, son."

"I love you too, mom."

Dad came up to the room once he had finished parking the car and the three of us sat there talking, trying to be as quiet as we could so we wouldn't wake up Caroline.

Caroline eventually woke up and my parents had left to go meet up with Caroline's parents for lunch.

"Good morning sleepy head," I smiled as she sat up in her chair, "or should I say good afternoon?"

"Good morning," she smirked. Caroline stood up from her chair and walked over to the bed. She bent down and placed a gentle kiss on my lips.

"Climb in," I said, patting the empty spot next to me on the bed.

"I don't want to hurt you," she hesitated.

"Oh, you're not gonna hurt me. Come on."

I lifted my arm up for her to get in. Caroline laid one leg out next to mine and I moved over slightly. She threw her other leg up onto the bed and scooted closer into my side before laying her head down on my chest.

We laid there in silence for a moment, neither one of us saying anything.

"What are you thinking about?" Caroline asked, breaking the silence.